Blackhawks beat Bruins, take 3-2 lead in Stanley Cup final

Chicago's Michael Frolik (67) celebrates with teammates Niklas Hjalmarsson (4), Marcus Kruger, right, and goal scorer Dave Bolland after an empty-net goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals. (REUTERS/Jeff Haynes)

The best-of-seven series now shifts to Boston for Game Six on Monday with the Blackhawks holding a 3-2 lead and the Bruins needing a victory to extend the series.

Kane scored the only goal in each of the first two periods to put Chicago ahead 2-0 before the Bruins' defenseman Zdeno Chara pulled one back early in the third.

Chicago's Dave Bolland, however, ended the threat of overtime as the Bruins desperately pressed for an equalizer and he scored into an empty net with 14 seconds to play.

Blackhawks netminder Corey Crawford, who had been criticised for his shaky play in Game Four, was razor-sharp making 24 saves.

After a rollicking 6-5 shootout in Game Four, the teams returned to the close-checking, punishing style seen earlier in the series and both team's paid a high price, losing key players to bone-jarring hits.

Boston's Patrice Bergeron, their leading scorer with four goals, exited in the second period and was later taken to hospital with an unspecified injury.

Chicago captain Jonathan Toews, who assisted on the Blackhawks' first two goals, also did not play in the third period after taking a thundering hit from the Bruins' Johnny Boychuk as he cut across the Boston goalmouth.